Hydraulic comb and brush



CCL 15, 1940 I c. M. HICKEY 2,218,471

HYDRAULIC 00MB AND BRUSH Filed sept. 27. 19:57 Y 2 sheets-'sheet lA Oct. 15, 1940. f; M, HICKEY 4 2,218;471

HYDRAULIC COMB AND BRUSH Filed sept. 27, 1957 2 sheets-sheer 2 0| ,60 0 ISS 2. B7

jpg/Ww! f Y y Il' f i y |20 l F3 IOO 2O i INVENTOR A@ W L Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc'E 2,218,471 maAULlccoMa AND pausa Charles M. Hickey, New York, N1 Y.

Application September 27, 1937, Serial No. 165,856

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for treating the hair and skin, and more particularly to a simple means for applying fluids to the hair and skin of human beings and other animals during t the act of combing or brushing.

An object of this invention is to provide means for accurately controlling the supply of fluid during a treatment. l l

Another objectl is to provide a hydraulic comb l and brush having a reservoir for receiving, holding, and discharging the fluid as desired..

A further object is the provision of positive pressure and valve control means for forcing and distributing the treating iluid between the teeth n l of a comb or the bristles of a brush.

This comb and brush in its preferred form comprises a reservoir for holding a supply of treating uid or liquid and hydraulic pressure producing meansV for propelling the liquid and capillary ductsfor causing substantially uniform distribution of the treating liquid to the teeth of p the comb and the bristles of the brush.

A more detailed description of this invention follows and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of onearrangementoi the hydraulic comb.

Fig. 2 is a partial side and cross-section view of the comb showing especially the working parts in their normal non-operated position.

. Fig. 3 is a top view, part in cross-section, oi the comb. 4

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial side and cross-- section view of the comb showing especially the working parts in their operated position for propelling the liquid to the region of the teeth.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-section of Fig. 2 between teeth.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section view of a o fragmentary portion of the comb showing especially the capillary ducts for the passage of the treating fluid through the upper portion of the teeth.

Fig. 'l 'is a view of an individual sealed liquid supply container for lling or charging the reservoir of the comb or brush.

Fig. 8 is a partial side and longitudinal crosssection view of the hydraulic brush equipped with a. rectangular liquid supply reservoir and propelling mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a transverse view of Fig. 8 with its` end cap removed.` Fig. l0 is a partial top view of Figs. 8 and 9 showing especially, by dotted lines, the position of the working parts.

l Fig. l1 is a partial side and longitudinal crosssection View along planes ll--Il of Fig. 12 of the brush' equipped with a cylindrical liquid supply reservoir and propelling mechanism. f

Fig. 12 is a transverse cross-section of Fig. l1 g along planes l2-l2.

Similar reference characters on the diierent drawing figures refer to corresponding parts.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, the hydrauliccomlo,A its lo exterior is in general similarto that of an ordinary comb. The body of comb I0, with its teeth ll, is provided with a liquid distributing chamber- 20 from which smalldlameter ducts il, preferably having a cross-sectional area of capillary it size, extend to space between the teeth as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or through a portion of the teeth as shown in Fig. 6. 'I'he drawing iigures are not to scale andthe small ducts for clarity vare drawn much enlarged. The top of the distributing 20 chamber 20 is tightly closed and covered by the liquid holding chamber or reservoir 50 positioned above it in channel 40. The liquid holding chams v ber vis cylindrical and preferably made of transparent material to give the user a view of the 25 quantity of liquid therein. The top ofthe comb body above the distributing chamber is formed with a longitudinal cylindrical cavity or channel 40 in which the cylindrical holding 'chamber or reservoir 50 tightly iits. The cylindrical chan- 30 nel 4U at the handleend is plugged by atubular member 4| tted therein under pressure or made as an integral part of the comb body and at the other end is plugged by a threaded tubular member or bushing 42 which is tightened to press v35 against an end oi reservoir 50 and press it against the inner end of the member 4I to seal each end of the reservoir in the comb member. Gaskets may be employed at each end of the reservoir forpreventing leakage. A removable stopper or o threaded plug 43 screws into the bushing 42 to permit filling the reservoir with the treating liquid. A sleeve valve and piston' member 60 isarranged to' be reciprocated in the tubular reservoir-50. It has a number of ports 5I, prefer- 45 ably of capillary diameter, which may be aligned with corresponding ports 5| in the tubular cham# ber 50 when the valve and piston member 60 is reciprocated into the position shown in Fig. 4. 'I'he sleeve preferably is longitudinally slotted and 50 elastic so that it presses against the walls if the surrounding reservoir in a manner similar to that of a piston ring. Normally the valve member is longitudinally held by the spring 64 in the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the capillary 55 ports 6| are not in alignment with the ports 5| and the liquid consequently is retained in the reservoir 50. 'I'he sleeve valve and piston member 60 connects with and is reciprocated by stem 52 which carries on its outer end an enlarged exterior member 63 for applying pressure by the hand to move the valve and piston member inwardly for propelling or forcing liquid from the reservoir and to the teeth of the comb. The inner end of the valve member 60 seats against end member 4| in a way to prevent liquid from leaking out around the stem 62. Any suitable sealing means such as conical member 65 carried on the stem 62 arranged to engage the lxed seat' 66 under the pressure of the spring 64 may be employed to form a liquid tight joint where the stem extends into the reservoir 50. As a further precaution against leakage, a. packing or cupshaped piston 6l of leather or other suitable material may be attached to the valve stem 62 snugly fitting in the tubular portion of end member i. The small and large washers on each side of the packing 61 holds it in place on the stem with its flexible cupped shaped end facing inwardly. The cylindrical sleeve valve -60 and the extension end 63 are held in proper position so that the ports and 6| are in angular alignment by the pin 44 fixed in the frame of the comb en- V gaging in the longitudinal slot 68 in the reciprocating extension end 63.

Liquid is forced from the reservoir 56 to the distributing chamber 20 and through the small ducts 3|, which may be of capillary size, between the teeth of the comb by reciprocating the sleeve valve and piston 60 from the normal rest position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4. This is readily done by pressure of the thumb on the end extension 63. In this movement of the piston the liquid is placed under pressure and a definite amount positively forced to the teeth. Upon removing the thumb from the end extension 63, the'spring 64 restores it and the valve and piston member 60 to the normal position shown in Fig. 2.

'I'he liquid for filling the reservoir 50 may be taken from an ordinary bottle or other container, or it may be supplied from a sealed capsule or tube having a supply for one charge. 'I'his individual supply tube has the advantage of keeping the liquid fresh and of insuring the genuineness of the liquid as each tube can be under seal from the manufacturer and designed so that it is broken or otherwise destroyed in emptying its contents into the reservoir. Such a'single-use container is shown in Fig. 7 and means for breaking or puncturing an end are shown in Fig. 2. The sealed charging tube 1| may be of glass or metal of a size to be inserted into the sleeve valve and one end pressed against the pointed member 10 at the inner end of the sleeve until it is ruptured and the liquid runs into the reservoir. The capsule may then be removed or it may be of such length and material that it may be left in the reservoir until a new charge of liquid is required. If made of brittle instead of tearable material the breakable end is preferably covered with4 a gauze 12 for catching the broken. small fragmental A 4capsule for emptying by breakage would preferably be of thinner glass at the breakable end. The puncturing member 'I0 is slotted or otherwise shaped so as to allow the liquid to readily leak out of any type of ruptured capsule and avoid stopping the punctured opening.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentarytransverse and longitudinal cross-sections, respectively, showing amara particularly cross-sections through the ducts and other passages, in the former the small ducts 3| lead between the teeth and in the latter, a modified arrangement, the ducts pass through the body of the teeth for a portion of their length and then pass through a side of the teeth near their points.

Figs. 8 `to 12 show the hydraulic system as used in the comb applied to a brush. Figs. 8 to 10 show the brush equipped with a rectangular shaped liquid supply reservoir and sleeve valve and piston, while Figs. l1 and 12 show the brush equipped with these elements, cylindrical in shape and similar to corresponding parts of the comb. The construction of the liquid supply reservoir in the brush is integral with the brush frame which is somewhat simpler than the construction shown for the comb inl which the reservoir is a separate cylindrical member which may be transparent while the other parts are opaque. However, either type of construction :may be employed in either the comb or the brush. The body of either may be made of a transparent material. A large spring for holding the valve and piston in the normally closed position is shown within the liquid reservoir of the brush' instead of in the handle,v as in the comb.

. Referring to the brush having the rectangular reservoir, Figs. 8 to 10, the brush body |00 has a rectangular shaped reservoir |56 and distributing chamber |20 extending over the top of the bristle section |30. These cavities maybe formed in the brush body with openings at the end of the brush which are closed by the attached end piece |0i. The rectangular sleeve or slide valve and piston member |60 having ports |6| is attached to the stem |82 and the end extension |68 to which pressure is applied by the hand for reciprocating the valve and piston the same as in the comb. Ports |5I leading from the reservoir into the distributing chamber |20 are in alignment with the ports iEi, preferably of capillary size, in the slide valve when it is operated by pushing towards the end of the brush. In this position the liquid is under pressure and a small amount is forced from the reservoir to the distributing chamber and through small ducts I3! leading therefrom to the bristles of the brush. Liquid is prevented from leaking from the reservoir around the stem |62 by the packing Washer |65, and also bythe cup-shaped piston |61 of leather or other suitable material attachedgto the valve stem and snugly tting in the' tubular passage in which the stem operates. A compression spring |64 presses between the far end |0| of the reservoir and an abutment on the sleeve valve and piston member |60 to normally hold these members in their rest position towards the han- 'dle of the brush. and also seals the reservoir ture of both the brush body and bristle section. A plurality of small ducts 3|, preferably of capillary size, are drilled through the bristle section inany desired arrangement to properly distribute the liquid to the bristles. In Fig. 11 the liqlild control parts are shown inl their normal rest .position with the ports |5| and |6| leading from the reservoir out of alignment and consequently closed, while in Fig. 12 these ports are shown in alignment and open. One set of these ports IBI are preferably of capillary size. 'I'he valve and piston member |60 is connected to the stem |62 and the extension end |63 so that it maybe manually reciprocated for propelling liquid to the bristles. A packing washer |65 and flexible cupshaped piston |61 `prevents outward leakage of the liquid around thestem but is designed to allow entrance of air. A compression spring I6! presses .between the far end of the reservoir and an abutment |69 in the valve and piston member to normally hold these members in their rest position towards the handle of the brush and to keep all passages from the reservoir sealed. A re- 'movable stopper or threaded plug |43 permits iilling the liquid supply reservoir. The brush arrangements may be readily adapted to employ the individual capsule for supplying liquid to the reservoir as described for the comb. One such modification of the brush would 'consist in making the removable stopper of suillcient diameter to permit the insertion of the capsule and either having the spring |64 removable or the capsule pass through it, as would .be possible in the arrangements shown in the drawings.V

' The ports and ducts of small diameter, some of capillary size, are employed to control the rate of flow of the liquid and to obtain a more uniform distribution of itto the teeth of the comb and to the bristles of the brush. The ports and ducts may be conical holes or otherwise throttled to make the capillary section short and thus avoid clogging. While the ports and ducts between the supply reservoir andthe teeth or bristles generally have been described as of capillary size they may be of larger size, particularly when a few are used, their sizebeing governed by their number and distribution and the fluid used in the device. Also distributing media may lbe used in the distributing chamber to more uniformly distribute the. fluid and to-more slowly carry it to the teeth or bristles. For this distributing media granular particles or-thread-like members of non-absorbent material such as metal, glass or the like are preferred. Fine wire mesh positioned in the distributing chamber with the crossed wires positioned obliquely to the axis of the chamber cause a very effective spread of the fluid passed from the reservoir through a few ports. Such granules or wires carriers not only are very effective but they can be readilycleaned by washlng as their material is non-absorbent. In ap- While different'detail arrangements are shown for corresponding parts in different figures ofr the drawings any suitable combination or modification thereof may be made in a complete hydraulic comb or brush. A combination of both` may be made by combining both teeth and bristles in one unit. Further the bristle section of the 4brush isiremovable thus readily permitting cleaning and sterilizing, and also interchangeable to permit the use of members with bristles of different stiffness and spacing, or for use with different dye.co1ors. "The ducts leading to the region 'of the teeth or bristles when made of capillary size especially aid in equalizing the distribution of the `fluid in measured increments and prevent general leakage. The employment of surface capillary carrier media. andcapillary l duct control passages are a novel feature of this invention. The general design vof both the hydraulic, comb and brush is such as to readily adapt it to simple standard manufacturing processes and to the employment of various materials in its construction.

Other lmodifications of details may be madeto the forms of the invention herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.` y

What I claim is:

l. A device for treating and applying liquids to the hair and hide of an animal, comprising a member having a plurality of projections for contacting and agitating the surface of the animal, a liquid supply chamber, ducts leading from said chamber to the region of said projections, and manually operated reciprocatable liquid displacing means associated with said chamber and arranged to displace in any one reciprocatlon stroke a volume relativelysmall in comparison with the volume of'said chamber for creating a limited pressure 'in said chamber for propelling fluid therefrom to the region of said projections.

2. In combination a comb member, a. liquid supply chamber, a plurality of capillary channels for conducting and distributing liquid from said supply chamber to the teeth offsaid comb, valvularmeans for`controlling at the will 0f the user of the comb the transmission of liquid from said supplyA chamber to said teeth, and liquid displacing means having an operative volume displacement equaling a small part of the rvolume of amount of said liquid to said teeth. o

3. In a comb for applying liquid to the hair, a liquid supply' reservoir, a reciprocatable pissaid supply chamber for forcing a measured ton associated with said reservoir and arranged ume of said reservoir, capillary ducts leading from said reservoir to the region' of a plurality of teeth of said comb, and means for reciprocating the said piston a definite amount controlled by said limitingmeans to propel liquid from sa'id reservoir to the region of the teeth of the comb.

4. A hydraulic comb for applying liquids to the hair and skin in the process of combing comprising a liquid reservoir, capillary conducting passages from said reservoir to the region of the teeth of said comb, and volitionally controlled associated .valvular and liquid displacing means associated with said capillary conducting passages and said reservoir for governing and positively propelling the liquid transmitted to said capillary conducting passages.

5. A hydraulic combing device having a plurality of contacting elements for applying liquids -to an irregular surface comprising a liquid holding reservoir, a liquid distributing chamber associated with a plurality `of said contacting elements, and pumping means for intermittentlyv manually forcing with each pumping cycle small Vportions of the liquid from said reservoir to said contacting elements.

6. In combination a co b for applying liquid to the hair and scalp co prising a liquid holding reservoir, channels of 'capillary size posihydraulic pressure on the liquid in said reser-v voir.

7. In a hydraulic fluid applicator a plurality of projections for contacting an exterior surface, a' liquid supply reservoir, means for causing a pressure in said reservoir, capillary carrier mediabetween said reservoir and said projections, and valvular control means arranged for opening when said pressure exists and for closing for permitting and for restraining respectively the ow of liquid from said reservoir to said media as the user of the device may desire.

8. A hydraulic applicator device comprising a liquidreservoir, capillary media wetted with liquid forced from said reservoir, means for limiting the lsupply ci liquid to said media -to a prearranged amount, manually operated means for changing the volume of said reservoir for creating pressure pulses in said reservoir, elastic means .-for' restoring said manually operated means to non-operated condition, and valvular means cooperating with said manually operated means for passing liquid from said reservoir to said Vmedia in synchronism with said pressure pulses.

9. A hydraulic combing device-comprising a comb, a liquid supply reservoir associated with said comb, ducts from said reservoir to the region of the teeth of said comb, valvular means between said reservoir and said ducts for governing the passage of liquid to the teeth of said comb, and reciprocatable pumping means having a volume displacement per stroke equaling a small portion of the volume of said reservoir and associated with said reservoir for propelling therefrom through said ducts measured amounts of liquid to the region of the teeth of said comb. l

CHARLES M. HICKEY. 

